"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13, NKJV)
Last night in our series Growing in Grace we continued in our study on the model prayer. Specifically we noticed the line “your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” God is a sovereign God and so there is a sense in which His will always get done.
"… Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:11)
Last night in our series Growing in Grace we continued in our study on the model prayer. Specifically we noticed the line “your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” God is a sovereign God and so there is a sense in which His will always get done.
"… Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:11)
In His providence or supervision of all things God orchestrates all things according to His will including our salvation.
"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will," (Ephesians 1:11, NKJV)
Yet there is another sense in which His will is not done. Many reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Many will perish forever. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. God has compassion on mankind and desires that all men be saved.
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NKJV)
In the model prayer then we are addressing God and asking Him to accomplish His sovereign will or the will of His decree and we are asking Him to accomplish His desire that His will be done here on here on earth perfectly as it is done in heaven. Our prayers are more than exercises in communication, God uses means to accomplish His will and one of the means is our prayers. How does God do that? I am not sure but I will trust Him and fulfill His declared will in my life to pray without ceasing that His will be done.
"pray without ceasing," (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NKJV)
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